Meet Our Leaders: Trip Colden, COO

At GovSpend, progress starts with the decisions and direction of our leadership team—those setting the vision, shaping our strategy, and ensuring we build solutions that truly serve our users. Meet Our Leaders features interviews with our executive team and department heads, offering insight into how they’re guiding our growth and helping us deliver smarter, more impactful solutions for the public sector.

Trip Colden graduated from the University of Virginia in 2005 and has worked in the sales realm since launching his career at SNL Financial. Over the years, he’s built his professional life around sales and client services, a journey that ultimately paved the way to his current role as Chief Operating Officer at GovSpend. Today, Trip is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Mindy, their two kids, Kennedy (10) and Logan (3), and their dog, Willow. 

In the fifth interview of our Meet the Leaders series, Trip describes his career path, leadership style, and what excites him most about GovSpend’s future.

Throughout college, I thought I would pursue a career in law, but after taking the LSAT, I pivoted, realizing that law school wasn’t the right path for me. Instead, I found my footing in sales and quickly discovered a passion for it. Over time, I had the opportunity to lead both sales and client services teams across a number of industries, which gave me a broad perspective on what drives companies to profitability.  My move to a smaller firm and being deeply involved across multiple facets of the business, along with my desire to keep learning and growing, led to my current position.

I’m really excited about the ways we’re using AI to supercharge our data collection. In the past, gathering some of this information required hundreds of man-hours, but now AI allows us to ingest data directly from the web and bring it into our product far more efficiently. Competitors have taken note of our ability to “find signals,” but what sets us apart is the scale—we’re already leveraging hundreds of millions of data points, and now we’re adding this additional layer from the web. The combination is powerful and opens up exciting possibilities for our customers.

We’ve always stayed true to our roots by collecting and updating agency data, and that remains at the heart of our mission. Our goal is to continue being the most comprehensive and reliable source in the market for MAI (market and agency intelligence). At the same time, we’re embracing new technologies like AI to ensure we’re not only keeping up with emerging trends but staying ahead of them. It’s about striking that balance—maintaining the integrity of our core data while layering in the latest innovations.

My wife’s mentor gave her a copy of Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink, and she encouraged me to read it; it was a game-changer for me at the time and has become a staple in how my teams operate. I’m also a fan of all of Simon Sinek’s books, and have recently found a podcast I like, called No BS Leadership by Martin Moore, because of its straightforward, practical advice. All reinforce the importance of accountability, clarity, and leading by example.

My grandfather has always been a huge inspiration to me. He served in the Marines during World War II as a radar repairman, and later relocated the family so he could attend Virginia Tech at age 40 to earn his degree. From there, he built a career in computers and became an engineer for the Naval Facilities Command, spanning a 30-year career. His story is one of grit, determination, and resilience, and he has always served as an example of who I strive to be as a husband, father, and leader.

If you think you want to pursue a graduate degree, do it right away. It only gets harder to go back once you’re settled into your career and personal life.

The qualities I value most are integrity, grit, and a genuine eagerness to learn. To foster that culture, I believe in practicing open, honest, and direct communication. I shoot straight with my team, and I encourage them to do the same, with me and with each other. That kind of transparency builds trust and creates an environment where people feel empowered to take risks, learn, and grow.

I love to play golf and go snowboarding whenever I get the chance. Having a three-year-old at home means constant entertainment, and it’s both exhausting and rewarding in the best possible way.

Thomas Jefferson – As a native Virginian and UVA alum who lived in Charlottesville for 20 years, I’ve always admired Jefferson’s vision and legacy, not just for the University but for the country as a whole. Having dinner with him would be an incredible opportunity to learn from one of history’s most fascinating minds.